A romantic comedy based on an Anton Chekhov play of the same name. A young man comes to collect a debt owed to him by the widow Popova's late husband. They argue , duel with pistols , and fall in love while all of this is witnessed by Popova's servant Luka.
When Shura's sister dies, Shura starts taking care of her newly orphaned niece. Her fiancee, Grisha thinks the child may be Shura's own, and his suspicions estrange them. This leaves the way clear for a shy neighbor who has loved her from afar to gain points as a potential mate. Stenberg's design is simple and effective - a strongly-colored portrait of the pensive heroine at a table that provides space for the title and limited credits.
Life in a Russian village at harvest time as idealized peasant pastoral, concentrating on the landscapes and folk songs of the region.
